Monday 25 January 2010

NEWS FROM BLUE RIBAND


NESTLÉ VISITS THE DARK SIDE WITH NEW BLUE RIBAND® DARK

Nestlé has given Blue Riband®, one of the nation’s favourite tea-break treats, a makeover by coating it in rich, smooth dark chocolate. January 2010 will see the launch of Blue Riband® Dark, which joins the already much loved 99 Calorie Biscuit Range that includes the traditional milk chocolate Blue Riband.

A biscuit and a cuppa can go hand-in-hand, and with the launch of Blue Riband Dark there has never been a better time to take five minutes, relax and indulge in one of life’s little pleasures. At 99 Calories and containing no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, Blue Riband Dark is a perfectly portioned treat.

Blue Riband Dark joins Nestlé’s chocolate biscuit bar range of 99 Calorie favourites including Blue Riband Milk, Breakaway®, Drifter® and Toffee Crisp®. For those looking for a little treat with no to compromise on taste, Nestlé biscuits are great additions to the weekly shop. With the introduction of Blue Riband Dark to the range, there really is something to suit all the family.

Joanne Coxon, Assistant Brand Manager for Nestlé Biscuits says: “We are very proud to introduce Blue Riband Dark to our well-loved existing range of 99 Calorie biscuits. The new launch is part of Nestlé’s commitment to give families choice when selecting great tasting treats. The 99 Calorie biscuit range not only delivers on taste but they are perfectly portioned to be enjoyed as part of varied, balanced diets.”

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For further information please contact Frank PR on 020 7693 6999 or email nestlebiscuits@frankpr.it


Notes to Editors:
About Nestlé Blue Riband Dark Bars:
- Available nationwide
- Typical nutritional values per Blue Riband Dark: Calories: 99, Fat: 5.2g (of which saturates: 2.9g), Protein: 0.9g, Fibre 0.9g, Carbohydrate 11.8g (of which sugars 8.4g)
- Blue Riband Dark - 9 pack (RRP £1.29)

Full Range includes:
- Blue Riband - 6 pack (RRP £1), 9 pack (RRP £1.29), 18 pack (RRP £1.99)
- Breakaway - 6 pack (RRP £1), 9 pack (RRP £1.29), 18 pack (RRP £1.99)
- Drifter - 8 pack (RRP £1.29)
- Toffee Crisp - 7 pack (RRP £1.29)
- Blue Riband Dark – 9 pack (RRP £1.29)

Friday 8 January 2010

NEWS FROM HOVIS


HOVIS SIGNS ‘GIRL ON A BIKE’

Baker signs Olympic Champion Cyclist

Victoria Pendleton for a 3-year campaign deal

Today, Britain’s most famous baker, Hovis has announced a 3-year partnership with Olympic cycling champion, Victoria Pendleton. Pendleton will be the baker’s ambassador for a series of campaigns, including encouraging a new generation of British ‘girls and boys on bikes’; healthy-eating and education initiatives.

Marketing Director Jon Goldstone, says “Hovis is renowned for Britain’s favourite ad, the iconic ‘Boy on a Bike’ and we are delighted to announce Vicky as our new ‘Girl on a Bike and are very excited about our plans for the next 3yrs.’”

Victoria Pendleton, who will be training in Perth (Australia) before March’s World Cycling Championships in Copenhagen, says: “I’m really looking forward to working with Hovis and being their ambassador for a range of healthy-living and eating campaigns.”

Victoria added: “I hope my work for Hovis will inspire a new generation of ‘girls and boys on bikes’ who enjoy cycling as much as I did when I was younger and maybe even inspire some champions of the future.”

Pendleton, 29, won Olympic gold in the individual sprint at the 2008 Beijing
Games. She has dominated women's track sprint cycling since 2005 winning 7
World Championship and the Commonwealth sprint titles. She will defend the
individual sprint at the World Championships in Copenhagen in March and the

Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October.

Her achievements also include:



2009

World Track Championships, Pruszkow

Gold, Women’s Sprint
Silver, Women’s Team Sprint



2008

Olympics, Beijing

Gold, Women's Sprint



World Track Championships, Manchester

Gold, Women's Team Sprint (with Shanaze Reade)
Gold, Women's Sprint
Silver, Keirin



2007

World Track Championships, Majorca

Gold, Women's Team Sprint (with Shanaze Reade)
Gold, Women's Sprint
Gold, Women's Keirin



2006

World Track Championships, Bordeaux
Silver, Women's Sprint



Commonwealth Games, Melbourne

Gold, Women's Sprint
Silver, Women's 500 metre Time Trial



2005

World Track Championships, Los Angeles

Gold, Women’s Sprint



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**Radio ANR, TV B-roll and Online D-roll are all available featuring interviews with Victoria**

For further information please contact Frank PR 0207 693 6999 or email hovis@frankpr.it


Notes to editors:

For more information on Hovis, visit www.hovisbakery.co.uk
Hovis followed up ‘Boy on a Bike’ with the epic ‘Go On Lad’ ad in 2008. This was voted ad of the noughties by ITV in December 2009
Victoria is exclusively represented by Chris Evans-Pollard at three60 Sports Management.

NEWS FROM AVIVA

SHOOT IT AND SCORE A GRAND AND A HALF
Aviva Launches Search for Funniest Away-Day Antics Video

Banter and buffoonery, chants and camaraderie, is your journey to ‘the match’ a laugh a minute comedy sketch? Aviva, the UK’s largest insurer, is asking the public to come forward with their own football fan videos.

Made famous by Aviva’s current advert, the instantly recognisable “Green Army” chant is echoing around football stands across the country, and the insurer is seeking real life away-day antics to be uploaded to www.aviva.co.uk/greenarmy aping Paul Whitehouse’s journey to watch Plymouth Argyle.

Every Saturday pays homage to a certain ritual, superstition, costume or joke. If your match journey video is ‘good on paper’ it could have ‘great prospects’ of winning £1,500 to go towards next year’s season ticket and away-day travel. Plus there’s a £1,000 weekly prize up for grabs. But, football fan or not, everyone can Get the Aviva deal with 12 months car insurance for the price of 10.*

The campaign is launched by legendary sportsman, Phil Tufnell; who might be notorious for spinning a cricket ball, spinning around the dance floor and lording it in the jungle, but he is also a life-long footie fan and is helping Aviva in their search for the best away-day antics videos.

"The trip to watch your team play is often more entertaining than the match itself, especially if your team has a bad game!” says football fan Phil. “Full of antics and anticipation, all squeezed into the back of the car wearing your clubs colours and singing your team’s anthems - you can't beat that kind of banter on a road trip with your mates.

"I'm helping Aviva find the funniest away day videos, so if your journey to the big match is one big comedy show upload your antics to www.aviva.co.uk/greenarmy. There's £4,500 up for grabs for the best entries and of course you can have a look at what everyone else gets up to on the way to support their team in the beautiful game."

Whatever team you support, whether your journey is by car, on a coach, on foot, or even at the big match itself, Aviva want to see your videos of your away-day antics. To see Phil’s own journey to ‘the match’ log on to www.aviva.co.uk/greenarmy.

David Tyers, director of marketing at Aviva says, “Aviva recognises the effort demonstrated by thousands of football fans on a weekly basis, travelling miles up and down the country to support their favourite team.

“We know the Green Army campaign has struck a chord with supporters everywhere so now we want to see what they get up to on their journeys to the match – the jokes, the banter, the costumes - whether on wheels or on foot we want to see them all!”

To enter simply log on to www.aviva.co.uk/greenarmy and upload a video of less than two minutes in length for your chance to win a share of £4,500. The competition runs for a month. Every Friday, for three weeks, Aviva will choose a weekly winner who will get a £1,000 cash prize to go towards away-day travel. The weekly winner will be announced on the website. On Friday 5th February an overall winner will be announced and they will win a £1500 cash prize.**

But remember, all videos must be shot safely with no individual put at risk! Any videos that show dangerous activities will not be entered into the competition or shown on the website. Entries close at midnight on Tues 2nd February.

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Contacts: For further information contact: Frank PR on 0207 693 6959

Entrants will be asked to provide their name, the team they support, a description of their entry, their email address and a daytime telephone number

Notes to Editors

* Available to new customers who have at least four years no claims discount. Proof of no claims status is required. Excludes any additional covers. A minimum premium applies. We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time.
** Terms and conditions apply see the website for more information; aviva.co.uk/greenarmy

Aviva, the international savings, investments and insurance group, is the world’s fifth largest insurance group, serving 50 million customers across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.

In the UK, Aviva is a leading provider of life, pensions, investment, general insurance and health products to more than 20 million customers. Aviva also provides roadside assistance through RAC. Products are distributed through a number of channels including IFAs, brokers, corporate partners and direct to customers via the internet.

Aviva's UK Insurance business has a market share of around 15%, making it the largest general insurer in the UK. The business is focused on insurance for individuals and small businesses.

Aviva's life and pensions business in the UK has a total market share of 12% and a top three position in its key markets of savings, protection, and annuities.

Aviva’s news releases and a selection of images are available from the internet press centre at www.aviva.com/media.

Safety While Driving
• Get everything ready before you set off - select your favourite CD or radio station, adjust your seat, check your mirrors, set the temperature, and programme the Sat-Nav before you even release the handbrake.
• Familiarise yourself with your car instruction manual so you can recognise the dashboard warning lights. This way you’ll know which require urgent attention, and which you can ignore until you reach a suitable place to stop.
• Put your phone on silent, or even better turn it off while you are driving. That way you won’t be distracted by incoming calls and text messages.
• If you need to have your phone on then either use a hands-free device or pull over to a safe place to make or receive calls.
• If you are using a Sat-Nav and need to make a change to your journey, pull over in a safe place before reprogramming.
• If your passengers are distracting you, remember you’re the one in the driving seat so you’re the boss. It’s fine to ask them to sit still or keep the noise down.
• It is against the law for the driver to use a hand held mobile phone while driving
• At all times passengers must wear seat belts

RAC Report on Motoring 2009

Tuesday 5 January 2010

NEWS FROM PREMIER INN



THE PERFECT BREAK!

PREMIER INN ANNOUNCES SPONSORSHIP DEAL
OF DEFENDING CHAMPION, RONNIE O’SULLIVAN,
FOR THE 2010 MASTERS SNOOKER

Ronnie “The Rocket” O’Sullivan, world-record holder for the fastest ‘perfect break’ will be sponsored in January’s Masters Snooker by the UK’s biggest hotel chain, Premier Inn.

The defending champion is hoping to test out a new purple cue as part of the one-off sponsorship deal, which has been struck to celebrate Premier Inn’s own ‘perfect break’: since Summer 2009 over one million ‘Premier Offer’ room nights have been made available for just £29. Premier Inn’s perfect budget breaks include cut-price entry to top theme parks, sports facilities and beauty salons.

If O’Sullivan achieves a perfect break, Premier Inn has pledged to release 147 hotel rooms for free (terms and conditions apply), to the first 147 people to email perfectbreak@premierinn.com

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Terms & Conditions for 147 free rooms if Ronnie makes a perfect break

• If Ronnie O’Sullivan achieves a ‘perfect break’ of 147 under normal conditions in the 2010 Snooker masters at Wembley Arena (10 – 17 January 2010), Premier Inn will make 147 rooms available free of charge (“The maximum break possible in snooker under normal circumstances is 147. This is often known as a maximum, or a 147 (or orally a one-four-seven). The 147 is amassed by potting all 15 reds with 15 blacks for 120 points then all six colours for a further 27 points.” SOURCE: Snooker Rules ).
• These rooms will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to the first 147 people emailing perfectbreak@premierinn.com after Ronnie O’Sullivan achieves a perfect break in the 2010 Snooker Masters at Wembley Arena (10 – 17 January 2010).
• The offer will only be made once – i.e., if Ronnie O’Sullivan achieves more than one ‘perfect break’ this offer will only count for the first time he achieves a ‘perfect break’ in the 2010 Snooker Masters at Wembley Arena (10 – 17 January 2010).
• The free rooms will be at various UK locations and dates decided by Premier Inn and will not be subject to negotiation. A cash alternative will not be offered. Stay must be taken before 30 November 2010.
• Entries will only be accepted from UK residents aged 18 and over who enter by email via perfectbreak@premierinn.com. No other entry mechanics are applicable / acceptable.
• Emails sent to perfectbreak@premierinn.com should include the entrant's full name, age (over 18) and contact details.
• The offer does not include travel expenses or breakfast and dinner expenses – the offer is for one room night for one person only.
• An individual will only be entitled to one free room as part of this promotion.
• Winners will be notified by email by 31 January 2010. A list of winners’ postcodes will be available on the Premier Inn website by 10 February 2010.
• Employees of Premier Inn, Whitbread, the promoters, associate companies and their immediate families are not eligible to enter
• Premier Inn reserves the right to cancel, withdraw or amend this promotion without notice.

About Premier Inn:
Award-winning Premier Inn is the UK’s biggest hotel chain with 583 budget hotels and more than 40,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland. Premier Inn bedrooms feature en-suite bathroom, TV with Freeview, and WiFi internet access. Premier Inn offers customers a money-back ‘Good Night Guarantee’ of a good quality room, comfortable surroundings and friendly service, which is unique amongst Britain’s leading hotel chains.

All Premier Inns feature a bar and restaurant; situated inside the hotel or adjacent, offering a wide range of food choices.

Premier Inn was the first Britain-wide hotel group to sign up with national tourist board VisitBritain; this means Premier Inn is now part of a new quality assessment scheme, specially created for budget accommodation.

In 2008 Premier Inn launched in Dubai and in 2009 opened in India. On a domestic front, Premier Inn is set to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London by the 2012 Olympics.

Premier Inn is currently offering rooms for just £29 (restrictions apply). Visit www.premierinn.com for full terms and conditions.

Lenny Henry is the ‘face’ of Premier Inn’s TV advertising campaign.